The "T" Word

The Unashamedly Human Podcast

Imagine your body as a highly advanced storage system—not just for memories, but for emotions, stress, and yes, trauma. Your muscles, fascia, and nervous system are quietly holding onto a mental archive of everything you've experienced—whether you remember it or not. And here’s the kicker: your conscious mind might not even know it. Let’s dig in. The Science of Stored Trauma You know how out of nowhere, your neck locks up like it’s trying to make a point or your shoulders suddenly feel like they’re carrying bags of bricks? Sure, we could blame bad posture or too much time at a desk. But more often than not, these aches and pains are physical manifestations of stored, unprocessed trauma—both the obvious kind (like accidents or loss) and the more subtle kind (chronic stress, neglect, etc.). When we encounter trauma or stress, our body activates the fight, flight, or freeze response through the autonomic nervous system. This releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Ideally, once the threat has passed, our body returns to baseline, and the energy is discharged. But if the trauma isn’t processed, the nervous system doesn’t fully reset. Instead, the body stores that unresolved energy, like pausing in the middle of a movie but never pressing play again. Over time, this "frozen" energy gets locked into our tissues, manifesting as muscle tension, chronic pain, or even digestive issues. But what if I told you trauma doesn’t just live in the body? Understanding how our thoughts and emotions interact with these physical symptoms can bring a whole new dimension to healing.